This report presents the recommendations of a WHO Expert
Committee responsible for reviewing information on
dependence-producing drugs to assess the need for their
international control. The fi rst part of the report contains a
summary of the Committee’s evaluations of seven substances
(dronabinol, oripavine, buprenorphine, butorphanol, ketamine,
khat and zopiclone). The report also discusses the substances
that were pre-reviewed (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and
tramadol) and recommended gamma-hydroxybutyric acid
for critical review at a future meeting. Two substances
(gamma-butyrolactone and 1,4-butanediol) were identifi ed
for future pre-review). The second part of the report discusses
the guidelines for the WHO review of dependence-producing
psychoactive substances for international control. It includes
sections on amending the current guidelines, interpretation
of specifi c aspects of the guidelines and access to information
necessary for the evaluation of substances. The fi nal section
considers other matters including activities of the EMCCDA,
the use of pharmacovigilance data, promotion of education
and information on the appropriate use of psychoactive drugs
and the impact of international control on medical availability
of substances.